EDMOND —
Money can cure some ills, but what is needed in the world today is more human involvement, said the Rev. Mark Story, rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church of Edmond.
“Symptoms can be solved by money, but developing human relationships is really important,” Story said, noting that is a prime focus for St. Mary’s. “We can lead with our money, but we need to be present with people.”
Americans say that technology gets them connected, but it really doesn’t, said Story, who has served the Edmond church for 10 years.
“We need physical contact with one another. We need to be close.”
Sunday morning, Story’s church family will celebrate its 10-year relationship with him at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 325 E. First St.
For Story, 2 Corinthians 5:20 has related meaning. The verse describes Christians as Christ’s ambassadors, making an appeal for God. Christians are set apart for a special purpose and their holiness is not based on perfection. It is based on the call, Story said.
In Edmond, that call has included being a part of the Edmond HOPE Center, organized in 1984 to meet the basic needs of members of the community by providing food, clothing, household items and financial assistance for rent and utilities.
St. Mary’s is one of several Edmond churches and organizations serving residents at the Rolling Green Apartments with their time and resources. St. Mary’s also has a school for preschool through seventh grade, an active women’s ministry, a growing youth program and a powerful music ministry.
The church also sends Christ’s ambassadors into the larger world.
Several months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, a group from St. Mary’s went to Bay St. Louis, Miss., and stayed at a Episcopal-Lutheran camp while they went out in the community for a week. Story recalled a stark divide on either side of a raised railroad track. One side appeared normal.
“The minute you crossed that raised track, it was devastation,” Story said. “I had seen pictures. I was not prepared.”
Story said the experience serving the victims was very humbling. They worked long, hard hours doing manual labor. At the end, it was hard to measure progress due to the extent of the damage, he said. It was one of those situations where they could have started anywhere.
“People were so kind and expressed their thanksgiving for just small things,” Story said. “They didn’t have anything and they were alone.”
In the presence of that destructive power, the Oklahomans worshiped with fellow Episcopalians who had lost their church, Story said.
That trip was led by a layperson, Charles Ming, who came to him and said the church needed to go and help the storm victims. A young man who attends St. Mary’s came to Story after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 and said he wanted to lead an effort to gather dishwashing soap and other items he could send to a family friend rescuing wildlife harmed by oil and tar.
Story said if there’s one legacy for his time with St. Mary’s he hopes it is striving to support lay ministry.
“It really isn’t important if I start something,” he said. “What’s important is what we as a body of Christ do. If they feel empowered enough to say ‘I’ve got an idea and I think it’s from God,’ that’s really what I want.”
Story said the support he receives from his family — his wife Susan and their daughters Morgan and Katherine — has been immense. Susan, he said, keeps him grounded.
The St. Mary’s congregation is also marking its 75th anniversary this year. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 15, the church invites residents to a rummage sale.
For more information about St. Mary’s, visit stmarysedmond.org or call 341-3855.
marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121
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MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Sunday morning, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 325 First Street, will celebrate Rev. Mark Story's 10-year anniversary at the church. The congregation is also marking its 75th anniversary this year. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14-15, the church invites residents to a rummage sale.
Discussion
Edmond church celebrates pastoral milestone
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